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In your previous blog you indicated that Nolan Ryan believes that Pence should start at Round Rock. Could you find out what Bagwell thinks regarding Pence. It would be interesting to see if Bagwell feels Pence needs to start at AAA or if he’s ready to start in Houston.

(Rita, you are taking my words completey out of context. I never said that Nolan Ryan feels Pence should start at Round Rock. I said Nolan views Triple-A as more indicative of what a young guy can do than spring training. Because of those comments, I said I believe Pence should start at Round Rock. JJO)

Spring Training numbers mean squat when the season starts. If your team loses every game in ST it means squat when they start the season.

Of course, I prefer to see that my team wins all the time, ST or regular season. I would hate it if Hunter Pence leaves all of his hits in ST.

History is full of guys who are pitchers cannot get out in ST but who cannot hit their weight in the regular season. Last year Luke Scott was the darling from ST numbers, but needed more time at RR before he was ready to do a number of big league pitching. If the same holds true for Hunter Pence, then wait for his arrival during the season. Let him open the season at RR and hone his skills a bit more.

If it is true that there is no shot for Pence to be in the Majors to start the season, Why is he still in major league camp? wouldn’t it be better to give the AB’s Pence is getting to someone who is struggling to keep their spot on this team, i.e. bruntlett, palmiero, hidalgo, and lane? It makes no sence to me that Pence is still in camp unless the Astros Front office is planning a transaction of sorts invloving some of the fringe players so that Pence can start in center. If that’s not the case then send him down. I’m sure that would take some pressure off Burke as well.

Tim Purpura and Phil Garner may say that spring training batting statistics are deceiving and misleading. But what is not misleading and is a very valid indicator of regular season performance is defense.

If the Astros truly care about putting the best product on the field, if the Astros pitchers had a voice in the decision, who would be playing centerfield in the regular season Hunter Pence or Chris Burke? The answer according to EVERYONE who has been quoted in the Chronicle is Pence. Defense in spring training is not misleading. Barry Bonds’ two baubles the other day is indicative of his fielding skills during the regular season. So are the relative performances of Pence and Burke.

Burke’s numbers are fine for a second baseman, but he is not a major league average center fielder in terms of fielding, and his arm is deficient in centerfield. That would be tough enough on a pitching staff in a normally configured centerfield, but what about in Houston, which may be the most demanding centerfield in the majors. As an aside, Colorado is also a very demanding centerfield with the wide expanses to be covered, demanding a strong arm, and guess who they have out there this year? (Have a great one, Willy – the best arm in centerfield in baseball).

Purpura and Drayton McLane owe the fans above all the best shot at winning. What is more important – gratifying Biggio’s hits pursuit while fielding a truly defensively deficient second baseman and centerfielder, or putting together the best defensive and offensive combination with Burke at 2nd and Pence at CF? The fans and the pitching staff deserve the best opportunity to win. Tim Purpura is losing credibility quickly.

Incredible. Last spring, Scott hit the cover off the ball and was rewarded with a spot in the field on Opening Day. Pence is hitting just as well if not better than Scott did, and he is on his way to the minors. Disappointing.

So let me get this straight! Pence’s performance in spring means nothing but Lane’s performance means everything? How does that happen? He’s 24 yrs old and he should be given the chance to play. We know what Lane can not do so let’s move in a different direction. Hidalgo has no business getting playing time. Just because he played good in the Venezuelan Beer League doesn’t mean he can perform at the big league level. You can hit .250 in that league Jose. It’s hard to argue with The Astros for what they have done but dicounting the performance of Pence because Lane is doing well is outright stupid. I hope Garner and Purpura are right about this because I would rather dance with the devil I don’t know than dance with the devil I do know!

Jose, is Burkes shoulder healed? .059 is not good enough to play at all, but particularly when Burke is barely serviceable as a centerfielder. I am watching Tavaras hit .390 but Hirsch and Buchholz have been hit pretty hard. Can we trade for Willy?

I am sure Burke will get things going again, but he is making me worry. I like Hildalgo starting to get it going, no show of power yet, but then that is true with most everyone including Berkman. They need to change the water or something.

Jose, since I can’t watch these games on TV, I can’t tell how Burke looks at the plate. Based on his average, I’d say he probably looks like a grandma up there. Is he crushing the ball right at people and can’t find a break, or does he look totally over-matched? What’s up with him not even batting his weight? I’d appreciate your comments/insight.

(Yesterday, he hit the ball very well on one of his at-bats and not so well on the last two. He’s not striking out a lot, so that’s a good sign that at least he’s seeing pitches well. JJO)

this is exactly why the lastros will always be the lastros. they are pathetic! i’m 36, maybe i should try out for a spot on the team. in 10 years, i’d be a great candidate for a position on the team as a rookie.